James Kirkup is The Telegraph's Executive Editor (Politics). He was previously the Telegraph's Political Editor and has worked at Westminster since 2001.

Vince Cable reveals secret Lib Dem plan to increase VAT. Maybe

The Liberal Democrats are basing their attacks on the Conservatives on the claim that the Conservatives have a secret plan to put up VAT once they're in power. This is a Bad Thing, the Lib Dems tell us, and one they have ruled out.

On Thursday, Nick Clegg said this:

"We will not have to raise VAT to deliver our promises. The Conservatives will. Let me repeat that: Our plans do not require a rise in VAT. The Tory plans do."

Today, Vince Cable was on the BBC's Politics Show, interviewed by Jon Sopel. Here's an extract: